YOUNGSTERS at a city school left their desks behind to retrace the route of Birmingham's first fatal tram crash which happened a century ago.

YOUNGSTERS at a city school left their desks behind to retrace the route of Birmingham's first fatal tram crash which happened a century ago.

Pupils at the Oratory Catholic Primary School, in Ladywood, stepped back 100 years to October 1, 1907, to imagine what it was like to witness the dramatic crash which killed two people and injured 17 other passengers.

And they also relived what it must have been like to be part of the media at that time, recording what had happened and taking photographs at the crash scene.

The packed tram was hurtling downhill in the Jewellery Quarter's Warstone Lane when the brakes failed.

It caused the out-of-control tramcar to overturn as it reached the junction with Icknield Street, just down from the Birmingham Mint.

The tram's brakes were examined after the crash and found to be faulty, so as a result of the accident all brakes on the city's trams were made safer.

The living history event was organised by local historian and former teacher Norman Bartlam, who now works for Ladywood's Housing Education Initiative.

Justin Gray, head teacher at the Oratory School, who accompanied the children, said: "This has really brought this event to life for pupils. Their curriculum is greatly enriched by their work with Norman Bartlam."

The crash's centenary will also feature in the Ladywood History Group's magazine the Brew 'Us Bugle and will be part of a video broadcast for Ladywood TNT - Ladywood's news bulletins compiled by local youngsters.

Norman said: "Postcards were made of the crash which people posted around the country immediately afterwards.

"It's interesting that at that time people tended to broadcast news in this way.

"Four different photographs of the crash were taken and made into postcards. I have two, so I would like to hear from anyone who has any others."